Apparatus for feeding liquid



May 5, 1936. D. A. WEBER APPARATUS FOR FEEDING LIQUID Filed July 25, 1932 9a A. Wags/e,

Patented May 5, 1936 I UNITED STATES. PATENT FFlCE APPARATUS FOR FEEDING LIQUID Don A. Weber, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to The Deister Concentrator Company, Fort Wayne, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application July 25, 1932, Serial No. 624,414

17 Claims. (Cl. 210-149) This invention pertains to liquid handling apness are handled. Accordingly the :feeding deparatus, and more particularly to means for feedvice should form a continuous sheet andv avoid ing a liquid to apparatus for operating on the any tendency to form Jets tending to channel this pad of material. When such channellingaction One of the objects of this invention is to protakes place the filtering matt is broken and the I! vide an apparatus which will feed a liquid in such efllciency of the apparatus is greatly reduced.

a manner as to provide a sheet flow. Another application of this invention maybe Another object is to provide such apparatus in feeding liquids to mixers. For instance with which will compensate for irregularities in the two or more feeders feeding material into a '10 rate of flow of the liquid supply. a trough, m x r. or similar appa atus, the a ra Another object is to provide such an apparatus ment of the incoming ingredients in sheets prowhich will feed the liquid to the handlingmechvides for a very rapid and thorough blending of anism in such a manner as to insure a uniform the ingredients. v p flow through such mechanism. In the accompanying illustration a vibrating Another object is to provide such apparatus screen is shown equipped with a feed box adapt- 16 which will feed the liquid in a single unbroken ed to feed liquid in a sheet flow in accordance sheet and at a substantially uniform rate. v w th this nv nti Th draw h w ve s m- Another object is to provide such apparatus ply illustrates oneapplication of the invention which may be combined with aliquid handling which s clips-hie of many other uses and is. not

20 mechanism and which may be adjusted relatively mited to this particular application. go to such mechanism. Referring to the drawing 1 designates a suit Further objects will appearirom the followa hose frame upo which is mounted aing description taken in connection with the ac r n frame 2 w i h p n ed therein a companymg' drawing in which; screening medium 3, such as wire mesh cloth or Figure 1 is a side view of a liquid handling dethe like. Mechanism 4 is provided for vibrating .25 vice such as a filtering screen equipped with liqthe r n medium 3 in ny esired manner. uid feeding apparatus in accordance with this The details of the screening mechanism are not invention a part of the present invention, and may be of Figure 2 is a front view of Figure 1. I ny i l con truction.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the Mounted 0!! ab e up t supports 5 0 the 30 feed and base i is a feed box 6. This ieedbox may be of Figure 4 is an enlarged detail w m Figure 1 rectangular construction as illustrated in the showing the angle of approach of the liquid sheet drawing, and ay be built of Sheet metal 0 Other to the handling mechanism. suitable material. When sheet metal is used the This invention may find its application in ap- Various Joints y he Welded 80 that a t ght cOn- 35 paratus for handling juices, syrups, or other liqstruction is provided which is free from leakage uids. In such an apparatus it is desirable to and easy to clean. Entering the rear wall of the feed the liquid to the handling means, such as box 5 is a p y P p 7 adapted to Co y the vibrating screens, lawns, mixers and the like, liquid to e Operated upon to the feed box, from 40 in the form or an unbroken sheet of liquid. For y Suitable Source Of pp y not shown. Mount- 40 instance in feeding such a llquidto a vibrating ed Within the box 5 and extending lengthwise screen it is advantageous to feed the'liquld in thereof is a vertical partition-ii. This partition single sheet extending the full width of the extendslihe full length 0! t e bo -and divides the screen so that a layer or pad of material coma e nto t o c mpa tments. 8. receiving completely covering the screen maybefoisied. This partment 9 and a dispensing compartmentlii. 45

material flows down the screen. in a stream of The upper edge of the partition 8 rises substansubstantlally uniform depth. In screening optially above the inlet 1 and provides aweir'over erations whose purpose is to separate suspended which the liquid may flow from the compartment matter from the liquid, the pad of material on 9' to the compartment in. The box may be'pro the screen collects the suspended matter'which video with a loose lid or cover H to keep foreign 50 eventually forms a matt which itself provides matter from entering thebox; This lid is loose,

a filtering medium. In such operations it'is imthat is, it is not fixed to the box in am' air tight portant thatthe pad or matt of material flowing manner and accordingly the liquid within the down the screen should remain unbroken parbox is not under pressure other than that due to ticularly when solids approaching colloidal flneits own hydrostatic head. i 7

A regulating valve In. is provided in the inlet 1 to regulate the inflow of liquid to the compartment 9. Such a valve is useful under certain conditions, as for instance when the pump pressure is considerably in excess of that necessary to pass the liquid through the feeding device. Excessive pump surges can be kept within such limits with a valve of this kind that they can be handled and smoothed out in the feed box.

The lower portion of the front wall of the compartment III is formed to a rearwardly sweeping curve as indicated at II. This portion serves to guide the downward flow of the liquid so as to sweep the same laterally toward the outlet of the compartment. This outlet is at the terminus of the curved portion l2 and is providedwithaswinging gate l3 fixed to a shaft ll extended longitudinally of the feed box and journalled in suitable bearings on the end walls thereof. The shaft H projects through one of these end walls and has fixed thereto an arm l5 which has ad- Justably mounted thereon a counterweight I6. It will be'clear from the figures that the weight of the counterweight I6 is applied to the gate [3 so as to tend to close said gate. The flowing stream of liquid forces the gate open against the pressure produced by the counterweight. The bottom ll of the compartment 9 is extended forwardly into the compartment II) to provide a baille I3. This baiiie extends toward the sweeping portion I 2 of the front wall so as to cause the flow of liquid downwardly through the compartment ID to be thrown against said front wall in order that the flow may follow the sweep l2. A drain cock I! may be provided for emptying the compartment 9 when the operation of the apparatus is shut down.

In'the operation of the apparatus illustrated in the drawing the liquid to be operated upon is supplied through the pipe I to the inlet in the compartment 9. The infiowing liquid impinges on the partition 8 and is directed upwardly'thereby. One or more horizontal baflies 20 may be mounted on the partition 8 so as to dissipate any direct cun'ent which might tend to be set up from the inlet up over the partition 8. Accordingly the liquid rises in the compartment 9 in a relatively quiet fiowand spills over the top of the partition 3. The compartment I0 is, therefore, filled with the liquid to such a depth as to cause the pressure thereof to force open the gate I3. When this gate opens a long narrow slot is formed to provide an outlet from the compartment 10 through which the liquid flows in a continuous unbroken sheet. When the flow of liquid has been established it runs downwardly along the front wall of the said box and then sweeps rearwardly against the gate I3 and out at the outlet -opening. The baflle l8 serves to maintain the flow along the front wall of the feed box.

The feed box is mounted above the screen 3 and may be supported on the uprights 5 by adjustable fastenings such as the bolts 2| whereby its relation to the screen 3 may be adjusted. Ar-

rangements may be made so that this adjustment may be made both vertically and laterally. The sheet of liquid issuing from the gate or outlet is, therefore, delivered directly to the screen 3 and then flows down along said screen in a uniform stream. It will be noted that the rearward sweep of the portion I2 is effective to direct the flow of liquid against the swinging gate [3. The flow impinging on this gate is redirected thereby in a downward direction. The flow issues in a direction substantially along the gate or in the plane thereof. Accordingly the direction in which the liquid is fed to the screen can be accurately adjusted by adjusting the counterweighting etc. of the gate l3.

The angle at which the liquid impinges on the screen 3 is usually important in determining the manner in which the liquid flows over said screen.

If the flow of liquid approaches the screen at right angles thereto, a certain portion of the liquid will be deflected upwardly along the screen while another portion is deflected downwardly. The first portion will have to find its way down the stream through the sheet of liquid being fed. This is liable to cause disturbance of the even fiow over the screen. If the liquid being fed, approaches the screen at too steep an angle, that is, with too great a component directed along the screen, there is a tendency for the energy of the approaching liquid to be directed downwardly along the screen so as to force the flow at a greater rate than would be imposed by gravity alone.

Y This is liable to cause a disturbance of the even flow on the screen, such as cutting or channelling or the like.

It is desirable, therefore, that the impinging sheet of liquid be caused to approach the screen at such an angle as to avoid the disturbance caused by a right angle approach as described above and at the same time avoid directing the energy of approach downwardly along the screen. By proper adjustment of the gate I3 such an angle of approach can be obtained as to insure the most uniform flow of the liquid along the screen. This condition is obtained when the direction of approach of the new liquid is such as to strike a balance between the two undesirable effects mentioned above-namely, those of a right angle approach on one hand, and too steep an approach on the other. When such an adjustment is obtained an even and uniform flow over the screen may be maintained.

It will be seen that the relation of the feed box to the screen 3 is such that the gate [3 opens in an upstream direction as related to the direction of flow on the screen. When the gate is nearly closed the sheet of liquid approaches the screen 3 in a substantially vertical direction. The angle S, Figure 4, which the sheet flow makes with the screen is a minimum under these conditions and this minimum is determined by the setting of the screen 3. As the gate opens under pressure of the issuing liquid it takes a position more nearly at right angles to the screen 3 and as the direction of approach of the sheet of liquid to the screen is determined by the position of the gate l3, it will be seen that as the gate opens this angle of approach to the screen is increased. This angle can never actually reach a right angle since that would require a gate opening sufficient to accommodate a greater fiow than the feed box is capable of.

It will be seen, therefore, that by this arrangement of the feeder with relation to the screen the angle of approach of the liquid to the screen is kept between certain limits. The minimum angle is fixed by the inclination of the screen and this may be so adjusted that the impinging velocity under a vertical fall will not be sufficient to cause channeling or cutting of the sheet of liquid on the screen. As the gate opens wider the liquid issues under a slightly greater pressure and a correspondingly greater velocity. To counteract the tendency of such increase in velocity to approach a condition where cutting or channeling would be caused, the

' angle of approach of the liquid is automatically increased as the velocity of I. approach and volume of flow are increased. In this way a uniform unbroken sheet of flow is maintained under all conditions of operation by adjusting the angle of approach of the sheet of liquid to the screen between minimum and maximum-limits in accordance with the volume of flow. It will be seen that this angle can never approach so near to ninety degrees as to cause atendency toward upstream flow.

It will be seen, therefore, that provides a liquid feeding device adapted to accomplish the purposes set forth. The flow of the liquid entering from the supply I is broken up and changed to a uniform upward movement of the liquid in the compartment 8. This is an enlarged compartment as compared with the inlet pipe 1. Accordingly the velocity of movement of the liquid is greatly reduced while traveling through the compartment 9. Furthermore as the liquid in saidcompartment normally stands at a level slightly above the upper edge of the partition 8 any variationin the rate of inflow to the compartment 9 is greatly reduced in its intensity. Its result will be simply a slight change of level above the partition 8 and this change will take place gradually as compared with the rate of change in the pipe 1.

In the compartment 9 the current variations due to pump surging are taken up by the expansion of volume in the liquid flow as it enters this chamber which serves to reduce the velocity of flow and to stabilize the pressures. spillage at a uniform rate, except for surges takes place over the top of the partition 8 which presents a suflicient opening between its upper edge and the top of the box to allow not only uniform flow but also any occasional surges. From this weir the liquid falls by gravity into the compartment l0 where it fills up to a given depth.

established by the swinging gate and the adjustable weight l8. Any increase in depth of liquid in this compartment produces .a corresponding change in head or pressure which is compensated for by the automatic action of the swinging gate l8 while only manifesting slight changes in the discharge rate and carrying such fluctuations ofof the liquid at the discharge slot which constantly decreases the discharge opening in proportion to the volume of liquid seeking exit and thus maintains distribution in a sheet flow across the' entire distributor. Thus any breaking of the streams into jets is eliminated and when the liquid is entirely out of the distributing box the swinging gate is tight against the lip or edge of the opening so that all flow is cut off.

While a certain theory of operation has been included in the above description this is simply for the purpose of a clear explanation and it is not intended that the invention shall be limited by any theory of operation.

this invention contemplated by this'invention and within the scope of theappended claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details, within the scope of the appended claims,

without departing from the spirit of this invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific details ,shown and/or described.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A liquid feeding apparatus, comprising, a

feed box having an enlarged receiving compartment. provided with a liquid inlet thereto, a dispensing compartment adjacent said receiving compartment, a partition betweensaid. compartments rising above said inlet adapted to provide a weir over which the liquid flows into said dispensing compartment, a dispensing. outlet for said dispensing compartment, and controlling means adapted to provide a sheet flow therefrom. T g I -2. A liquid feeding apparatus, comprising, a feed box having anenlarged receiving compartment provided with a liquid inlet thereto, a dispensing compartment communicating with said receiving compartment to receive liquid therefrom and having a dispensing outlet for the liquid adapted to provide a sheet flow therefrom, and a self-adjustin swinging gate counterweighted to automatically regulate the flow from saidoutlet.

' 3. A liquidfeeding apparatus, comprising, a feed box having an enlarged receiving compartment provided with a liquid inlet thereto, a partition past which theliquid ilows formed and positioned to retard the flow in order to quiet the same, said partition defining a dispensing compartment communicating with said receiving compartment to receive liquid therefrom and having a dispensing outlet for the liquid, and an approach to said outlet formed to define apath of flow for the liquid sweeping toward said outlet.

4. A liquid feeding apparatus, comprising, a feed box having an enlarged receiving compartment provided with a liquid inlet thereto, a dispensing compartment communicating with said receiving compartment to receive liquid therefrom, and a dispensing outlet for said dispensing compartment, said latter compartment being formed to provide a path of downward flow sweeping rearwardly toward said outlet.

5.'A liquid feeding apparatua'comprising, a feed box having an enlarged receiving compartment provided with a liquid inlet thereto, a dispensing compartment communicating with-said receiving compartment to receive jliquid therefrom, a dispensing outlet for said dispensing com partment, said latter compartment being formed to provide a path of downward flow and having a flow-guiding wall sweeping toward said outlet.

6. A liquid feeding apparatus, comprising, a feed box having an enlarged receiving compartment provided with a liquid inlet thereto, a dispensing compartment communicating with said receiving compartment to receive liquid therefrom, a dispensing outlet for said dispensing compartment, said dispensing compartment being so formed as to provide a downward flow and having a flow-guiding wall sweeping toward said outlet, and means adapted to direct the flow toward said wall.

7. A liquid feeding apparatus, comprising, a feed box having an enlarged receiving compartment provided with a liquid inlet thereto, a dispensing compartment communicating with said receiving compartment to receive liquid therefrom, a dispensing outlet for said dispensing compartment, a seli regulating gate for said outlet,-

said latter compartment being formed to provide a downward flow and having a flow-guiding wall sweeping toward said gate.

9. A liquid handling apparatus comprising, a feed box having an enlarged receiving compartment provided with a liquid inlet thereto, and a dispensing compartment communicating with said receiving compartment to receive liquid therefrom, flow-controlling means between said compartments adapted to quiet the flow, said receiving compartment having a dispensing outlet for the liquid adapted to provide a sheet flow therefrom, a device for processing the liquid during a sheet flow thereof, means for mounting said feed box above said device to feed liquid thereto, means for adJusting said feed box relatively to said device, and a flow-controlling gate for said outlet. v

10. Liquid handling apparatus, comprising, a feed box having an enlarged receiving compartment provided with a liquid inlet thereto, and a dispensing compartment communicating with said receiving compartment to receive liquid therefrom, flow-controlling means between said compartments adapted to quiet the flow, said receiving compartment having a dispensing outlet for the liquid adapted to provide a sheet flow therefrom, a device for processing the liquid while flowing in a sheet therethru, and means for mounting said ieed box above said device to feed liquid thereto adapted to support'and position the box to feed the liquid at an angle of approach to said device such as to insure a low rate of flow in the device.

11. A liquid feeding apparatus, comprising, a feed box having an enlarged receiving compartment provided with a liquid inlet thereto, means for regulating the volume of inflow at said inlet, means in said receiving compartment adapted to dissipate a direct current from said inlet, a dispensing compartment communicating with said receiving compartment to receive liquid therefrom and having a dispensing outlet for the liquid adapted to provide a sheet flow therefrom, and means adapted to regulate the flow from said outlet.

12. In a liquid handling apparatus, in combination with a device for processing the liquid having means receivingthe liquid to flow in a sheet thereover, a iced box having a dispensing outlet positioned to deliver'the liquid to said receiving means, and a regulating gate for said outlet, constructed and arranged to regulate the angle of approach 01' the liquid to said receiving means in accordance with the volume oi flow.

13. In a liquid handling apparatus, in combination with a device for processing the liquid having means receiving the liquid to flow a sheet thereover, a feed box having a dispensing outlet positioned to deliver the liquid to said receiving means, and a regulating gate for said outlet, constructed and arranged to regulate the angle 01 approach of the liquid to said receiving means so as to increase said angle as the volume of flow increases.

14. In a liquid handling apparatus, in combination with a device for processing the liquid having means receiving the liquid to. flow in a sheet thereover, a feed box having a dispensing outlet positioned to deliver the liquid to said receiving means, and a regulating gate for said outlet, constructed and arranged to regulate the angle 01 approach oi! the liquid to said receiving means so as to maintain said angle above a predetermined minimum and to increase said angle as the volume of flow increases.

15. In a liquid feeding apparatus, a feed box having a receiving compartment provided with a liquid inlet thereto, means for regulating the volume 01' inflow at said inlet, a dispensing compartment having a dispensing outlet for the liquid,

a partition between said compartments over which the liquid flows from one to the other, a flange on said partition in said receiving compartment adapted to quiet the flow oi the liquid. and means controlling the outflow oi the liquid from said outlet.

16. In a liquid feeding apparatus, a ieed box having a receiving compartment provided with a liquid inlet thereto, means for regulating the volume oi inflow at said inlet, a dispensing compartment having a dispensing outlet for, the liquid, a partition between said compartments over'which the liquid flows from one to the other, a swinging gate at said outlet against which the liquid flows, and means for adjusting the resistance of said gate.

17. In a liquid handling apparatus, a device for processing the liquid having means receiving the liquid to flow in a sheet thereover, a feed box having an inlet and an outlet, means in said box adapted to control and quiet the flow, outlet means for said box iormed and positioned to'deliver the liquid in a sheet flow to said receiving means, and a flow-controlling gate for said outlet.

DON A. WEBER. 

